Shin protectors and methods of using shin protectors

ABSTRACT

Embodiments of the shin protector apparatus aid in covering undesirable blemishes such as bruises caused by thin blood and skin tears due to delicate skin. One embodiments include a shin protector having a tubular body with a top end and a bottom end for covering a portion of a user&#39;s lower leg from the ankle to the popliteal fossa area of the user&#39;s leg, an aperture at the top end of the shin protector and an aperture at the bottom end of the shin protector so that the shin protector may be worn on a portion of a user&#39;s leg, a strap attached to the bottom end of the tubular body for maintaining the relative position of the shin protector in relation to the user&#39;s foot, and at least two support stays for supporting the shin protector positioned along the length of the tubular body.

CROSS-REFERENCES TO RELATED PATENT APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 60/107,668 filed Oct. 22, 2008 which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT

Not Applicable.

REFERENCE TO SEQUENCE LISTING, A TABLE, OR A COMPUTER PROGRAM LISTING COMPACT DISK APPENDIX

Not Applicable.

BACKGROUND

A. Field

The inventive subject matter relates, in general, to shin protection type devices and, more particularly, to apparatuses for protecting the shins of individuals who are required to take blood thinners for health reasons and/or individuals who have skin that bruises easily such as those that have delicate skin.

B. Background

It is known in the prior art that patients on blood thinners are quite susceptible to subcutaneous bleeding and skin tears on their extremities due to various circumstances such as when slight contact is made with their skin due to the effects of aging and certain types of medical complications. Such subcutaneous bleeding and skin tears are normally quite unsightly and are difficult to prevent. Nevertheless, those persons who have heart trouble or who are a candidate for a stroke must remain on blood thinner medications that have these undesirable effects. Other conditions that can lead to the increased bruiseability of skin include the thinning of skin with age, trauma such as when one bumps into furnishings and other obstacles, as well as reactions to other types of medications.

SUMMARY

Embodiments of the shin protector apparatus aid in covering undesirable blemishes such as bruises caused by thin blood and skin tears due to delicate skin. One embodiment is an apparatus for protecting against subcutaneous bleeding and skin tears in persons required to take certain types of medications for thinning their blood. This embodiment includes a posterior legging portion formed from a first predetermined material. This posterior legging portion extends from an ankle of a wearer to the popliteal fossa of the wearer. As used in this embodiment, the posterior legging portion extends to the region having a space or shallow depression located at the back of the knee-joint, this portion may extend higher or lower than this region in other embodiments such as the quadriceps femoris or the tuberosity of tibia.

One embodiment includes a shin protector having a tubular body with a top end and a bottom end for covering a portion of a user's lower leg from the ankle to the popliteal fossa area of the user's leg, an aperture at the top end of the shin protector and an aperture at the bottom end of the shin protector so that the shin protector may be worn on a portion of a user's leg, a strap attached to the bottom end of rhe tubular body for maintaining the relative position of the shin protector in relation to the user's foot, and at least two support stays for supporting the shin protector positioned along the length of the tubular body. Other embodiments include at least two pockets positioned on the exterior and/or interior of the tubular body for accommodating the two or more removable support stays. In many of the embodiments, the at least two support stays can be permanently or removably attached to the interior or the exterior of the tubular body surface. In several embodiments the strap of the shin protector May be constructed of a stretchable material such as a neoprene material or any other suitable material or fabric.

Other embodiments include a tubular body which is further comprised of a first member fabricated from a first predetermined material having a thickness at least an amount sufficient to help protect one or more areas of the leg, foot and/or knee from bruising. The first member has a first predetermined shape and a first predetermined length which sufficient to cover the shin area or a substantial portion of the shin area of a wearer's leg. These embodiments also include a second member fabricated from a second predetermined material that has a predetermined amount of elasticity. The second member is connected along two respective edges thereof to two respective edges of such first member so that the shin protector embodiments are conformed to the predetermined areas of such shin area of the wearer's leg or any area on the legs which is to be protected. In these embodiments, the first member can be a padded material with a thickness of approximately ¼ to ¾ inch or it can be any other suitable material with any suitable dimensions.

In other embodiments, the first member has a first predetermined shape and a first predetermined length which is at least sufficient to cover the shin area or a substantial portion of the shin area of a wearer's leg. In these embodiments, the second member has a predetermined amount of elasticity connected along two respective edges thereof to two respective edges of such first member for conforming the protector to the shin area of the wearer.

Another embodiment includes a method of securing a shin protector on a user's shin which includes the steps of inserting a user's leg into a shin protector comprised of: a tubular body with a top end and a bottom end for covering a portion of a user's lower leg from the ankle to the popliteal fossa area of the user's leg, an aperture at the top end of the shin protector and an aperture at the bottom end of the shin protector so that the shin protector may be worn on a portion of a user's leg, a strap attached to the bottom end of the tubular body for maintaining the relative position of the shin protector in relation to the user's foot; and at least two support stays for supporting the shin protector positioned along the length of the tubular body, and securing the shin protector to the user's leg by inserting the user's foot into the strap.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying drawing FIGURE, which is incorporated in and constitutes a part of this specification, illustrates an embodiment of the claimed subject matter, and together with the description, further explain the embodiments of the inventive subject matter. In the drawings,

FIG. 1 illustrates an embodiment of the shin protector apparatus.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS

In describing the disclosed inventive subject matter, including those embodiments illustrated in the drawing, specific terminology is employed for the sake of clarity. Although the embodiments will now be discussed in further detail, the descriptions are not an exhaustive explanation of all possible variations in structure and operation. It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various other changes or modifications can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the inventive subject matter including the embodiments presented herein. It should be further apparent that any or all combinations of the individual described variations with the disclosed embodiments are possible.

Embodiments of the inventive subject matter aid in covering undesirable blemishes such as bruises caused by thin blood and skin tears due to delicate skin. One embodiment is an apparatus for protecting against subcutaneous bleeding and skin tears in persons required to take certain types of medications for thinning their blood. This embodiment includes a posterior legging portion formed from a first predetermined material. This posterior legging portion extends from an ankle of a wearer to the popliteal fossa of the wearer. As used in this embodiment, the posterior legging portion extends to the region having a space or shallow depression located at the back of the knee-joint, this portion may extend higher or lower than this region in other embodiments such as the Quadriceps femoris or the Tuberosity of tibia.

In these embodiments, an anterior portion is formed from a second predetermined material extending from a predetermined distance from the knee areas, such as any of the above described knee regions, to such at least the end of such leg of the wearer for providing protection against subcutaneous bleeding and skin tears in such persons required to take such medications for thinning their blood. A strap, or strap-like member, formed from the second predetermined material extends around the foot forming a stirrup for the foot of the wearer.

In another embodiment, the apparatus aids in protecting against subcutaneous bleeding and skin tears in persons required to take certain medications for thinning their blood. In this embodiment, the apparatus includes a first member fabricated from a first predetermined material having a thickness at least in an amount sufficient to help protect one or more areas of the leg, foot and knee from bruising. Example includes any padded fabric or textile based material with a thickness of ¼ to ¾ inch. The first member has a first predetermined shape and a first predetermined length which is at least sufficient to cover the shin area or a substantial portion of the shin area of a wearer's leg. This embodiment includes a second member having a predetermined amount of elasticity connected along two respective edges thereof to two respective edges of such first member for conforming the protector apparatus to such predetermined areas of such shin area of the wearer's leg or any area which is to be protected.

In several embodiments, an apparatus is provided for protecting certain extremities against undesirable subcutaneous bleeding and skin tears of an individual required to be on blood thinners for medical reasons. Other embodiments include apparatuses which help protect certain extremities against subcutaneous bleeding and skin tears of an individual required to be on blood thinners for medical reasons and which have attractive ornamental aspects and/or features. Another aspect of several of the embodiments is that the apparatus is easy to use for the wearer and third parties assisting the wearer of the apparatus. Another aspect of several of the embodiments is that the apparatus aids in cooling of the area being covered. Another feature of the embodiments is that the apparatuses can aid in thermal regulation so that a thermal temperature range is maintained as cooled or heated or at any predetermined range. Another feature of the embodiments is that the apparatuses can be worn over previously bruised skin.

As shown in FIG. 1, an embodiment of the shin protector apparatus 10 is shown as worn by a user/wearer. As illustrated, the apparatus 10 may be worn under socks, shoes and/or clothing. Apparatus 10 is shown made from a leather or leather like material but it may be made from any suitable material known to those skilled in the art. Certain portions of the apparatus 10 may be made from differing materials. For example, area 12 of apparatus 10 in FIG. 1 may be made of a neoprene or other similar material with stretchable qualities. Apparatus 10 is also shown with two stays 14 which may be attached in a variety of manners to apparatus 10. Stays 14 may also be incorporated into such as with sewing or fusing into the material used for apparatus 10. Stays 14 aid in providing support to apparatus 10 so that it maintains its shape and placement. Additional straps may be used as needed. Similarly, stirrup 16 is formed from the material of apparatus 10 and is used to maintain the position of the apparatus 10 on the wearer, for example to keep the apparatus from riding upwards on the wearer's leg.

In addition to the various objects and advantages of the present inventive subject matter described with some degree of specificity above it will be obvious to those skilled in the relevant art that additional objects and advantages will become more readily apparent. 

1. A shin protector comprising: a tubular body with a top end and a bottom end for covering a portion of a user's lower leg from the ankle to the popliteal fossa area of the user's leg; an aperture at the top end of the shin protector and an aperture at the bottom end of the shin protector so that the shin protector may be worn on a portion of a user's leg; a strap attached to the bottom end of the tubular body for maintaining the relative position of the shin protector in relation to the user's foot; and at least two support stays for supporting the shin protector positioned along the length of the tubular body.
 2. The shin protector of claim 1, further comprising at least two pockets positioned on the exterior of the tubular body for accommodating the two or more removable support stays.
 3. The shin protector of claim 1, wherein the at least two support stays are permanently attached to the interior of the tubular body surface.
 4. The shin protector of claim 1, wherein the at least two support stays are permanently attached to the exterior of the tubular body surface.
 5. The shin protector of claim 1, wherein the at least two support stays are permanently attached to the interior of the tubular body surface.
 6. The shin protector of claim 1, wherein the strap is constructed of a stretchable material such as a neoprene material.
 7. The shin protector of claim 1, wherein the tubular body is further comprised of: a first member fabricated from a first predetermined material having a thickness in an amount sufficient to cover one or more areas of the leg, foot and/or knee, said first member having a first predetermined shape and a first predetermined length sufficient to substantially cover the shin area of the wearer's leg; and a second member fabricated from a second predetermined material having a predetermined amount of elasticity and having a second predetermined shape which is connected along two respective edges to two respective edges of said first member for conforming the protector to the shin area of the wearer's leg.
 8. The shin protector of claim 7, wherein said first member is a padded material with a thickness of approximately ¼ to ¾ inch.
 9. The shin protector of claim 7, wherein said first member has a first predetermined shape and a first predetermined length sufficient to cover a substantial portion of the wearer's leg in the shin area wherein said second member has a predetermined amount of elasticity connected along two respective edges thereof to two respective edges of such first member for conforming the apparatus to the shin area of a wearer's leg.
 10. A method of securing a shin protector on a user's shin, comprising the steps of: (1) inserting a user's leg into a shin protector comprised of: a tubular body with a top end and a bottom end for covering a portion of a user's lower leg from the ankle to the popliteal fossa area of the user's leg; an aperture at the top end of the shin protector and an aperture at the bottom end of the shin protector so that the shin protector may be worn on a portion of a user's leg; a strap attached to the bottom end of the tubular body for maintaining the relative position of the shin protector in relation to the user's foot; and at least two support stays for supporting the shin protector positioned along the length of the tubular body; and (2) securing the shin protector to the user's leg by inserting the user's foot into the strap. 